Thank you for all your advice and prayers. I’m going to take the liberty of copying part of an email to a 
reader for the purposes of updating the rest of the world, because I just know the whole world is waiting to hear about our little girl. 
- She did have a heart-shaped tongue tip at birth, but much less so now.
- She rarely sticks her tongue out far, but I have seen it extend well past her lips a few times. This makes me think that if she is tongue tied, it’s very mild. She certainly has the range of motion she needs for proper nursing, but maybe it’s a stretch for her.
- She still doesn’t latch on right, but a day of shields gave me time to heal and nursing is nearly pain free now. Just a bit of discomfort when she first latches on. I didn’t continue to use the shields because a reader warned that they can reduce the milk supply, and we really don’t need them now.
- She gained very little for her first 2 weeks, but did gain 4 oz in the last 3 days, so she is definitely improving. It’s not just my imagination. And to those Doubting Thomases (you know who you are) who scoffed when I suggested that a mother could feel a difference of a few ounces, I just have this to say: Told ya so!
- She still sleeps straight through the night, but is awake and very alert for much of the day. She has plenty of wet/dirty diapers, and like all of our other babies everyone comments on how strong, alert and responsive she is for a newborn.
- She had a mild case of jaundice which is almost entirely gone, though I think there may still be just a hint of yellow in the whites of her eyes.
So, bottom line: thanks for the prayers. Keep ‘em coming.
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I wonder if I can see a difference in the pictures or if it’s my impressionable eyes. Maybe if your post had said how she’s still not gaining well, would I have looked at the pictures and said to myself, my what a skinny baby, and getting skinnier. But I think she does look like she’s gaining. Glad to hear it’s true!
She is such a precious gift and a beautiful little girl!
Praise the Lord!
And might I just add that I was in the “give yourselves a chance” camp! Not to say I told you so or anything, that would be rude!
thanks for sharing the wonderful update on your sweet blessing. And is it just me or is she getting cuter?
Kim, she is absolutely precious. You are truly blessed.
Just wanted to say your baby is beautiful! What stunning eyes – an old soul, you might say. I’m not sure she can get cuter!
Thank you for sharing your stories. I love reading them.
Mish
She is so beautiful! Glad that the shields helped and she is gaining! I agree, only use them as long as you need to. The longer you use them the harder it is to wean baby off of them! I’ll keep praying!
Kim- All of my babies caused PAIN (pain, like I’d rather be back in labor kinda pain) the first few weeks of nursing. I went back to the lactation consultant with my first 2 just convinced ‘they’ were going to fall off and I was a complete failure at the nursing thing. She said I was doing it wrong, the baby was latching wrong…. on and on. I’m here to tell you, five babies later, the problem was none of the above. (And nothing fell off, by the way- in case you were concerned). Simply put, small mouths have a hard time getting as much of you as they need into their mouth. Was that delicate enough said? After the little mouths and tongues grew a bit over a few weeks, presto…. they could latch on better (or latch onto more) and no more pain. And the lactation gal who offered the advice also offered to put a stitch in my sore, nearly detached area… thank you, NO! Oh yeah, the shields were nice, too. Just my experience- after 5 babies I’ve nursed about a zillion months combined- so I hope my experience helps and encourages! (It’s not like you don’t have experience in this particular area!!)
What a beautiful baby!!
God Bless her!
Congratulations on your newest blessing! Glad to hear she’s doing well!
She looks bigger. I did think she was looking a little lean, but didn’t comment – I figure you’ve managed to get 8 past infancy, it’d work out. Shields – I have never heard that they can reduce supply. My best friend used them until her daughter stopped nursing (around 2) and never had a problem with supply. She has very unusual anatomy and probably would not have been able to nurse the baby without them.
I am curious about the hear shaped tongue. Does that mean something and is that why she was having problems nursing? I am very glad to hear that she is doing better. Also thanks for being so honest with all of us becuase sometimes people see others with many children and think they never have any problems.
Your little baby is ADORABLE! I get “babyitis” whenever I see a newbie. May God continue to bless you and your family.
I’m glad that she is gaining!
Woo Hoo! God is so good!
She looks great Kim, and so alert!! I am amazed! Jesus bless you and your family
She is an absolute beauty! I’ll bet your other children can’t get enough of her. The older ones in my home always argue over who gets to hold the baby…I’m sure you have the same thing going on at your home.
Tracy
She is so very pretty!
Our little guy is now 18 months old. He too was born just like your angel with the heart shaped tounge. We also struggled with breast feeding but add to our problems is that I have one severely inverted nipple that he would NEVER latch onto and finally he stopped trying to latch on to the other one I threw in the towel and he was bottle feed pumped breast milk.
We were warned that because he was tongue tied that he would have a speech impediment. I am here to tell you he has no problems what so ever. His doctor just looked him over again and when our little guy went to jabbering he chuckled and said “he is just fine.” We followed our hearts concerning our little one, you do the same and she will be just fine!
God Bless,
Michele
That is one very alert looking baby! So glad she’s gaining well now